aluminum spool gun

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why dont people use spool guns more often? why is tig used so much more often?please give your own reasons not a copy and paste ad of millers sight.
Reply:mig aluminum is much faster than tig. tig is much more precise than mig. standard whip has a much shorter reach than spoolgun.Dynasty 200DXPassport plus w/ spoolmate 100victor 315c oxy/(act and prop)Miller digital elitemilwaukee power tools
Reply:Spool guns are too much of an expense for someone not welding aluminum all the time.UA Local 598
Reply:Originally Posted by WHughesSpool guns are too much of an expense for someone not welding aluminum all the time.
Reply:Originally Posted by turkmig aluminum is much faster than tig. tig is much more precise than mig. standard whip has a much shorter reach than spoolgun.
Reply:Hey himsa,I'll attempt to give you a fair overall portrait of spoolgun use for those like myself who do production runs & multi-application needs.First, I do a lot of production jobs(alum).....multiple items(10+) & the spoolgun is most useful as there are no issues generally encountered with a regular MIG such as birdnesting because of wirefeed thru a long MIG cable. The softer wire, such as 4043, does not feed well in a regular MIG cable, & if that is the grade of wire necessary for a job, the spoolgun makes it quite easy. The only other recourse would be TIG, & that process is not going to bode well for production jobs.Next, I use TIG for all the aluminum d/plate custom show/classic car accessories I make because the aesthetics are necessary, even if I have to make more than 1. Bear in mind that these accessories are quite expensive because of the time involved. All the alum. d/plate crafts I make are welded with a spoolgun to minimize costs & enhance profit margins.Also, I do alum. production welding for a couple outfits that install alum. light poles for parking lots such as churches & small plazas. The poles & bases are brought to my shop on a flatbed & they are already prepped by the company at their shop. These are new virgin castings & I simply have to do a quick SS brushing w/acetone & weld. The crew from the shop does all the grunt work bringing them in, setting on the roller stands, wait till I do each one, & loads back onto the flatbed. Quite efficient & cost effective for the pole company & superb $$$ for me. I also have spoolgun setup on my mobile unit for field alum. repairs & it is often put into use with S-6 solid, SS, or f-c depending on application. So, as you can see, the spoolgun is a great addition & definitely compliments a shops capabilities to provide cost-efficiency for a customer, & added incoming work. You have to know what your level of work variables are to justify investing in a spoolgun.Anyway, I hope that gives you some information as to those of us who use a spoolgun & some of the reasoning for the investment. BTW, $500 for a 30A spoolgun is a bargain.DennyComplete Welding/Machine/Fab. ShopMobile UnitFinally retired*Moderator*"A man's word is his honor...without honor there is nothing.""Words are like bullets.... Once they leave your muzzle, you cannot get them back."
Reply:I would guess to say that the biggest percentage of welded aluminum is fairly thin stock, say 14 ga and less.  Most spool guns are not set to run material that thin. Tig, on the other hand, can weld just about as thin or thick as you want depending on the capability of the machine.StephenMillermatic 251Miller Syncrowave 200Miller 30A SpoolgunHypertherm Powermax 30Etc., etc., etc.............Cancer Sucks!
Reply:Originally Posted by yorkiepapHey himsa,I'll attempt to give you a fair overall portrait of spoolgun use for those like myself who do production runs & multi-application needs.First, I do a lot of production jobs(alum).....multiple items(10+) & the spoolgun is most useful as there are no issues generally encountered with a regular MIG such as birdnesting because of wirefeed thru a long MIG cable. The softer wire, such as 4043, does not feed well in a regular MIG cable, & if that is the grade of wire necessary for a job, the spoolgun makes it quite easy. The only other recourse would be TIG, & that process is not going to bode well for production jobs.Next, I use TIG for all the aluminum d/plate custom show/classic car accessories I make because the aesthetics are necessary, even if I have to make more than 1. Bear in mind that these accessories are quite expensive because of the time involved. All the alum. d/plate crafts I make are welded with a spoolgun to minimize costs & enhance profit margins.Also, I do alum. production welding for a couple outfits that install alum. light poles for parking lots such as churches & small plazas. The poles & bases are brought to my shop on a flatbed & they are already prepped by the company at their shop. These are new virgin castings & I simply have to do a quick SS brushing w/acetone & weld. The crew from the shop does all the grunt work bringing them in, setting on the roller stands, wait till I do each one, & loads back onto the flatbed. Quite efficient & cost effective for the pole company & superb $$$ for me. I also have spoolgun setup on my mobile unit for field alum. repairs & it is often put into use with S-6 solid, SS, or f-c depending on application. So, as you can see, the spoolgun is a great addition & definitely compliments a shops capabilities to provide cost-efficiency for a customer, & added incoming work. You have to know what your level of work variables are to justify investing in a spoolgun.Anyway, I hope that gives you some information as to those of us who use a spoolgun & some of the reasoning for the investment. BTW, $500 for a 30A spoolgun is a bargain.Denny
Reply:Originally Posted by goinssrI would guess to say that the biggest percentage of welded aluminum is fairly thin stock, say 14 ga and less.  Most spool guns are not set to run material that thin. Tig, on the other hand, can weld just about as thin or thick as you want depending on the capability of the machine.
Reply:You can use a spool gun on thick or thin material. I have used it on .065 wall. Its not fun but can be done. .065 material is not used much. .100 is more common.UA Local 598
Reply:If I was paying $9000 for a class and the instructor was not doing his job.  I would go up the ladder to get someone in to do the job or get my money back.  You are trying to learn a profession and this guy is ripping you off.  BSStand up for yourself finding work is tough and if you don't have the tools (craft) you won't work!  Your loss  When you get a job the company gives you what they have and you will need to know how to use it.  I don't like that machine won't cut it.Go get them Tiger
Reply:Originally Posted by acourtjesterIf I was paying $9000 for a class and the instructor was not doing his job.  I would go up the ladder to get someone in to do the job or get my money back.  You are trying to learn a profession and this guy is ripping you off.  BSStand up for yourself finding work is tough and if you don't have the tools (craft) you won't work!  Your loss  When you get a job the company gives you what they have and you will need to know how to use it.  I don't like that machine won't cut it.Go get them Tiger
Reply:Very difficult to get an airtight or watertight weld with a spool gun.  Usually have pinholes at your starts/stops.
Reply:i have welded all of my chambers whether air, water or fuel with spoolguns. i rarely get pinholes.Dynasty 200DXPassport plus w/ spoolmate 100victor 315c oxy/(act and prop)Miller digital elitemilwaukee power tools
Reply:are the heat settings and wire speed similar to steel settings
Reply:No. You will need to set the voltage (heat) and wire speed higher than you would to do steel of similar thickness. If you go to Millers web site and pull up the manual for one of their 220v migs, say the MM212, it will give you a rough aproximation of how much the settings are different between steel and alum the same thickness.Also you will need 100% argon to mig alum..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:thanks good to know ill let you know how my welds are on tuesday or what im gunna do wit my 9000